Photo of the Week: HIV in DRC: Philomene

16 February 2015

Philomène 47, discovered that she was HIV positive 14 years ago while she was pregnant. Philomène and her husband overcame the initial shock of the diagnosis and, thanks to long counselling sessions with MSF teams, they have managed to build a relationship and family life almost like anybody else's.

Philomène is also a dedicated activist within the community group RENOAC which helps Congolese people live positively with HIV. While working as a RENOAC volunteer, she met Emerence, a young girl who had been abandoned by her family. Emerence now lives with Philomène's family who considers her like their own child.

HIV in DRC: Philomene

Photo: Rosalie Colfs

Philomène and her daughter. Since Philomène was put on a on antiretroviral treatment that prevents the transmission of the virus from mother to child, she and her husband have had two children who are HIV negative.